An NES classic that carved out its own niche in the platforming world.
Although I'm admittedly skeptical about most of the 'classic' platforming franchises, including Castlevania, upon playing it there is no doubt that this game is worthy of its reputation. It may not seem like much by modern standards, but it's still capable of delivering fun and frustration in equal measure.
In terms of design the levels are short and intense, the boss fights oft brutal. Although for the most part it's straightforward there are a myriad of ways to die. Getting knocked off ledges was the most frequent method of death I found. Also, was it necessary that when you press down whilst waking up a staircase you automatically fall to your death? What kind of rubbish is that? That quirk of the controls I found really maddening.
The controls are quite far from perfect, which was the main problem I had with Castlevania. They have a slipperiness which can cause you to 'skid' into enemies and they weren't as responsive as I would've liked. And sometimes jumping/climbing stairs can be a real pain, especially when under pressure trying to avoid the enemies. The control faults, considering the difficulty of the game, were a severe annoyance. Also, although I'm aware it's NES, I could've used a story to make all the pain and aggravation worth it. Still, it's undeniably impressive.